No more DoBro. Unless Martha Stewart declares it official, since she has now discovered Brooklyn.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 19, 2009 10:08 AM in response to Commercial Klutch: November Edition

Spiral staircases will drive you insane.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 18, 2009 1:41 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 85 8th Avenue, #3R

Parking spot included, nice feature.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 16, 2009 1:02 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 130 8th Avenue, #7C

I admit to frequenting the Landmark back in '95 or so. They only had cans of Bud half the time, and the old lady was a bit of a loon. It was like drinking in a junk store. Can't believe this building is still standing.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 16, 2009 12:18 PM in response to Doings at the Dilapidated 7th Ave & 2nd St Building?

Another vote for Congestion Pricing. And a toll on the Kosciuszko. That would cut down on single-driver cars, bring money to the city, and pay for a portion of the bridge costs.

This bridge is ready to go. Better get hopping.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 6, 2009 12:01 PM in response to New Kosciuszko Bridge Won't Come Cheap

The downside of greed.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 6, 2009 11:54 AM in response to 85 State's Roller Coaster Ride

There's a crossing guard cop every day at the corner of Clinton and Pierrepont at St. Ann's, beginning at 3pm - if it happened there you may have a witness.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 5, 2009 4:02 PM in response to Mrs. B Side-Swiped In The Heights

I have a few friends who live here, and the apartments are quite nice. It's just another way of living in NY. Some people want a brownstone, some a prewar, etc.

Cats yes, dogs no. I think the parking is only $80 per month for tenants. Better than the $430 per month that I pay to park there.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 5, 2009 2:47 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 75 Henry Street, #19A

Speed bump, yeah, right. Like that'll happen.

Columbia is the best place to experience driving on the wrong side of the road chicken-style. Probably how this accident happened.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 4, 2009 7:30 PM in response to Closing Bell: Columbia Street Traffic Petition

Subaru wagons and Boston Red Sox hats.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 3, 2009 4:13 PM in response to Closing Bell: Gentrification Indicators

3.8m will basically buy you a 2br duplex with a 1br rental. Granted, I'd kill for a garage, but this house would fare better had it been renovated as a one-family. The roar of the BQE on Middagh is a further downside.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 3, 2009 3:48 PM in response to House of the Day: 28 Middagh Street

As Ringo points out, it was a wreck.

It had been occupied by the same family for decades when they sold it in 2004. The old lady still had her long-dead husband's hats on the hat rack in the front hall.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 3, 2009 1:31 PM in response to House of the Day: 28 Middagh Street

Squadron was against tolls on East River Bridges, but for Congestion Pricing, and the best solution he can come up with
is some painted stripes and an 'Exit Only' sign?

Congestion Pricing and Tolls will solve the FDR approach and BQE exit, because it will cut down on traffic. How many cars containing more than one person does anyone see crossing the bridge? Very few.

Sparafucile: Ari Halberstam, not Ali.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at November 3, 2009 12:21 PM in response to Squadron Helps Drivers Get Off (The FDR)

I can't imagine Tom Waits liking this at all.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 26, 2009 12:27 PM in response to Martha Does The Flea

Another vote for Jane Wyman. She was hot.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 23, 2009 11:33 AM in response to From Flicks to Fischer on 15th Street

I suspect the brothel ladies absconded with the original details.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 21, 2009 1:10 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 153 Lincoln Place, #3C

Nicky's Vietnamese Pate is a great sandwich. Atlantic near Smith.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 14, 2009 3:00 PM in response to Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

Was it the Hamburglar?

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 14, 2009 12:48 PM in response to McDonald's Robber Apprehended in Slope

You're in a sixth floor walk-up with a baby, the landlord is bipolar, and you pay the heating bills? There may be better apartments out there for you.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 13, 2009 3:33 PM in response to Negotiating Rent Reduction

CG - I actually saw it being torn down. They may have saved a tiny scrap of the original, but this was built as new. And nicely done, overall.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 8, 2009 8:02 AM in response to Exhibit: LPC Sometimes Digs Newfangled Buildings

125 Joralemon was a teardown, then new construction - why are they calling it a renovation? The windows on the building always struck me as being too small, but it's much better than the suburban bungalow that was previously there.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 7, 2009 1:28 PM in response to Exhibit: LPC Sometimes Digs Newfangled Buildings

2.6m for Sackett and Hoyt is 1 million too high.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 6, 2009 1:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 417 Sackett Street

Daytop has a large rehab center on State Street. Not exactly residential. Is this group looking to get rid of them after they knock off Friends?

Posted by: buttermilk channel at October 6, 2009 9:37 AM in response to Brooklyn Friends Relocation Gains Support

detailed and thorough for twenty years;

Janover Rubinroit, LLC
850 Third Ave NY NY
212-792-6300

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 16, 2009 12:29 PM in response to Need New Accountant

Agreed. Let your renters pay your mortgage and make your money work for you. I'm assuming you are making a nice profit each month with those numbers - continue to bank it.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 16, 2009 11:29 AM in response to Pay Back Mortage or Not?

I've used East Frames for more than ten years, and they do beautiful work. 543 Union at Nevins. 718-852-2652. Ask for Haruo.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 14, 2009 3:24 PM in response to Custom Framing Shop

From 31 Joralemon, you can hear the BQE 24/7. And yes, 31 is in need of a complete gut.

36 Joralemon, to the right of the posted home, is currently for sale for 3.8m. How's that for overpriced?

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 9, 2009 7:11 PM in response to House of the Day: 40 Joralemon Street

You've clearly set up an illegal sublet - no loopholes there. You could lose your lease.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 8, 2009 4:30 PM in response to Questions About Subletting

I've had an S-Corp for nearly 15 years and know very accurately how much I make. I pay taxes in NYC, NYS, Los Angeles and Cal, and do quarterly updates with my accountants.

All the bank is interested in is your previous two years of 1040's. That number is the same as the Officer's Salary on your 1120S. For all purposes, that is the bottom line. If you've made that figure too low, then you're seeing the consequences.

I've done two refi's over the past five years, and have had no questions regarding returns.

Obviously, it's easy to pay for nearly your entire life through the Corp, but if you don't know how much you make, how could you possibly defend yourself in an audit?

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 3, 2009 11:04 AM in response to How Can Self-Employed Refinance?

If kids are a factor... after our three year old figured out how to pick the toilet lock and began flushing celphones and apples down the toilet, we found an American Standard 1.6 that can flush eight golf balls. No idea how they came up with that as a benchmark, but it works. Weiss and Sons on Atlantic.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 2, 2009 2:31 PM in response to Toilet recommendations

No, a refi of 225K on a 30 year fixed on an assessed value of 1.1M. Even with all paperwork done in February, it still took forever.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 1, 2009 7:07 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

We had a very long closing process. Began in February with a mortgage broker and Chase, and when the original deadline passed in May, they kept the lock-in at 4.8 and started the process again. Finally closed in mid-July, after much waiting. We were told by the broker and the settlement folks that they were simply swamped with the backlog.

Good luck and keep calling them. It will happen.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 1, 2009 5:37 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

1. The buyer doesn't need a broker to represent them in buying a place not represented by the broker. If you want to sell FSBO, don't give your money away to the first double-dipping knucklehead realtor who just shows up at your open house.

2. Would certainly have helped to announce it as a FSBO.

3. You mean 'legally working for the buyer?' You have no obligation to the realtor. If you sign an agreement, then you have an obligation.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at August 31, 2009 4:50 PM in response to FSBO - Dealing with Buyer Broker

We've installed two Ikea kitchens, in an office space, and in a weekend house that sees heavy rental activity in summer. Both have held up well over the past seven years. The cabinets are all solid.

Good advice to opt for a quality countertop. We had a countertop of Ikea butcherblock in one of the kitchens, and it's starting to split near the sink. But that's after seven years of summer renters.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at August 31, 2009 1:48 PM in response to IKEA Kitchen

mshook - Chase missed the first deadline in June, and had to start the application again.
They locked in at the original 4.8 and kept it there. We too were beginning to think it was some kind of game, but they admitted that they were simply overwhelmed with applications. I tend to believe them after speaking with the people handling the settlement.

We finally closed last week. It was more nerve-wracking than any mortgage we had ever done, mainly due to the length of time it took. Hang in there, and good luck with the closing.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at July 28, 2009 1:33 PM in response to Refi Closing Costs - Shoe Drops!

Sounds outrageously high. There shouldn't be an origination fee on the refi. We just did a refi for 225K with Chase and the closing costs including settlement fee and title search was 2250. It took five months to finally get it done.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at July 28, 2009 12:18 PM in response to Refi Closing Costs - Shoe Drops!

$2000.00 tops.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at June 19, 2009 12:10 PM in response to Is Lawyer Fee Reasonable?

Groucho Marx owned several of these as an investment in the 1930's. The Poor Man's Riviera, it was once called.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at June 19, 2009 12:07 PM in response to The Last of the Bungalows

These three stooges should get back to working on another go at Congestion Pricing, instead of wasting time with a stupid idea such as residential permits for a single neighborhood.

I live and work in Brooklyn Heights, and cannot imagine how permits would make parking any easier here. The contention that people park here in the morning and catch the 2 train to work is simply false. There is no parking to be found.

Streets are public to the entire city and should be kept that way.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at May 18, 2009 3:19 PM in response to Residential Parking Permits Pushed for Brooklyn Heights

dibs... floorplan in tiny letters on site.
nice layout, bedrooms a bit small.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at May 4, 2009 1:06 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 130 St. Edwards Street

Classy, Bxgrl. Classy.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at April 22, 2009 12:33 AM in response to Tuesday Blogwrap

He was probably imagining future Park Slopers...

Posted by: buttermilk channel at April 21, 2009 11:43 PM in response to Tuesday Blogwrap

I can overlook his youthful stupidity. He admits to it. His act was regrettable, deplorable, and he admits as much. Move on.

"Art is about creation and expression"... what a load of bullshit.

ps Vito Acconci is great. Check out his latest at lacma

Posted by: buttermilk channel at April 21, 2009 8:40 PM in response to Tuesday Blogwrap

Maintenance is in line with the neighborhood. Not crazy about the layout, but a 2BR 1.5 bath with W/D for under 600K in BH is cheaper than comps.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at April 20, 2009 1:20 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 39 Remsen Street, #1E

My money is on PS8. The Precinct and 20 Henry will remain vacant and unfinished.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at April 17, 2009 11:32 AM in response to 72 Poplar Whiplash: Residential Again?

Small co-ops are a hassle. Whoever buys this will be responsible for 1/4 the costs of a new roof and facade.
I owned the top floor of a brownstone around the corner on Strong Place many years ago. It took months to reach even simple decisions.

This is a nice place, overpriced by 250K, and the maintenance is not too high. But I think a larger co-op structure is easier to live with.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at April 16, 2009 1:26 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 314 Clinton Street, #3

275K tops.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at April 14, 2009 1:00 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 670 Park Slope

"if I could only find some sucker"... enough said, Babs.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at April 13, 2009 2:43 PM in response to Babs: 'Don't Ever Underestimate' New York